Abstract
286 - Unveiling the Hidden Construct in Assessing Pain Catastrophizing
The journal of pain, Vol.29(Supplement), 105084
04/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105084
Abstract
The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) measures exaggerated negative thoughts and feelings about pain, asking respondents to consider, “when in pain.” However, PCS variability may result from choice of recalled pain condition(s), which is typically not assessed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the pain characteristics individuals consider when completing the PCS and their association to PCS scores. 89 adults (27±6 years; 29% reported chronic pain) completed the PCS along with additional questions regarding the pain conditions they considered: number (1, 2, 3, 4+), intensity (0-10), and duration (acute vs chronic, single vs. episodic). Results were assessed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, Chi-square, and univariate analyses. Most respondents (41%) considered 2 pain conditions, with 1 (22%), 3 (26%) and 4 (11%) also represented. Using the 1st, PCS scores increased with pain intensity (r = 0.23, p = 0.03), and varied across pain durations (p=0.04, η²=0.12). Further, PCS increased with average pain intensity for those reporting 2+ pain conditions (r=0.40, p<0.001). PCS scores did not differ by number of pain conditions (p = 0.85) or between those with and without a history of chronic pain (p = 0.42). However, those with chronic pain were more likely to recall chronic pain than those without (p<0.001). This study highlights that individuals consider different pain situations when competing the PCS, likely influencing scores. This suggests that when assessing pain catastrophizing, choice of referent pain condition is a 2nd unmeasured construct that may be important to consider for optimal interpretation.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- 286 - Unveiling the Hidden Construct in Assessing Pain Catastrophizing
- Creators
- Omid KhoshaviAdam J. JanowskiLaura A. Frey Law
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- The journal of pain, Vol.29(Supplement), 105084
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc; EDINBURGH
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jpain.2025.105084
- ISSN
- 1526-5900
- eISSN
- 1528-8447
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2025
- Academic Unit
- Nursing; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science
- Record Identifier
- 9984820567102771
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